Electric switch.



A. A. TIRRILL.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 28. 1909.

Patented Nov. 23, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

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A. A. TIRRILL.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 28. 1909.

Llfilfifil. Patented Nov. 23, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2- Qw vtmmQ/a: fwlc ndmu f ALLEN A. TIRRILL, OFSCHENECTADY, NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 23, 1915.

Application filed October 28, 1909. Serial Ilo. 525,227.

This invention relates to improvements in snap switches, and while theseveral features of thepresent invention are capable of use in devicesof various types, the general construction and arrangement is primarilydesigned for use as a ceiling or wall switch.

More specifically the invention comprises a switch of simple andefficient mechanism of compact form mounted for insertion into a recess,whereby to lie substantially flush.

with, the surface of a ceiling or wall.

The preferred embodiment of the invention embraces the utilization of a.pull cord or chain adapted in conjunction ,with the working parts of theswitch, by successive pulls on the cord or chain, to make and breakcontact with the electric wiring.

Novel characteristics of the invention reside in the mounting of theoperating mechanism of the switch upon a frame and covered by a flushplate whereby the former may be inse. d and removed intact with thelatter; the formation and arrangement of the switch mechanism wherebythe same may be readily inserted and fixed within an ordinary junctionbox. or casing; and means enabling the affixing of the switch mechanismto any of a numberof different sized junction boxes or casings, thusenabling service of my improved switch as a substitute for others.already in use in connection with what may be styled the standard typesof boxes or casings.

The details in the construction and ar-' rangement r the parts of astructure made in keeping with the present invention will be apparentfrom the detailed description hereinafter contained when read in con--nection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof ,and whereina convenient embodiment of the invention is illustrated' In thedrawings: Figure 1 is ap'erspectlve view of the switch as it appears inthe ceiling or wall, Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the box removed fromthe ceiling or wall and with the switch secured therein, Fig. 3 is avertical longitudinal section through Fig. 2, Fig. 4 is a horizontalsection taken on the line H of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of thearrows, Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the flush plate and the supportingframe to which it is normally secured, Fig. 6 is a face view of theinsulating casing for the switch mechanism which in turn is inserted inthe junction 'box' or flush pocket, Fig. 7 is a rear elevation of Fig.6, Fig. 8 is a vertical sec.- tional view on the line 88 of Fig. filooking in the direction of the arrows, Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectionon the line 9 9 of Fig. 6 looking in the direction of the arrows, Fig.10 is a detail elevation of one of the combined binding posts and springcontact supports, Fig. 11 is a similar view of one of the springcontacts, and Figs. 12, 13 and 14 are detail views illustrating the balland chain attachment. 1 Referring more specifically to the drawings,wherein like reference charactersdesignate similar parts in the severalviews, A represents the surface of an ordinary ceiling tured portions 6are formed within which securing screws C are designed to-engage in amanner to fasten the face plate D and mechanism carried thereby, to thebox B.

as will now more fully appear. The flush plate D is provided with anaperture fitted with a bell-shaped tube (2 rounded at its edges forthe-passage of a pull cord or chain E operating in amanner to be later.pointed out, and the plate is of a size to overlie the surface of theceiling or wall A bordering the pocket or recess therein to cover theopening thereof, but the plate being formed quite thin and. beveled atits edges offers no substantial protrusion from said surface.

On the rear of-the plate D I secure asupporting frame having in turn aflat base F and arms Gr, G. The ends of the frame F are offset slightlyin an outward direction as at f tofit complementary recesses f in therear face of the plate D, these offset portions having apertures c forthe screws C heretofore referred to and which engage the threadedapertures 12 of the box' B. I have shown two apertures c at each end ofthe frame to illustratethe adaptability of the device to different sizesof boxes B, the

' screws C being shown in the drawing as passing through the inner-mostapertures 0,

whereas in cases where larger boxes B are in use, the screws would passthrough the outermost apertures as 1s obvious.

To fasten the flush plate D on the frame portion f of the, bracket,screws (1' are passed through the plate D into engagement with threadedapertures f formed in the base F.

The arm G of the frame is formed integrally with and turned inwardlyfrom the frame F, the same being apertured as at g aperture g of the armG also for the blade carrying shaft h.

Save for the spring contacts with which the switch blades are adaptedvto engage,

and the special ball and chain attachment to' be hereafter referred to,it will be unnecessary to herein specifically describe thedetails .ofthe switch or the operating mechanism which manipulates said blades tomake and break contact, as desired, it being. sufiicient to here notethat said mechanism by a progressively rotating actuation of the bladescauses the latter to engage and be disengaged from the spring contacts;This op-' erating mechanism is clearly described and shown andconstitutes the subject matter of a copending application executed by meof even date herewith, filed October 28, 1909, Serial No. 525,226..

-. When the switch .is used in a ceiling, the

pull cord or chain will preferably be of an elongated type, but whenused in a side wall, I conveniently employ a short chain and ballattachment illustrated in Figs. 12 .and 1 13, the same comprising achain 2 provided at one end with a pull ball 3 made of hard rubthebell-shaped tube (1 in the flush plate ber molded material or porcelain,the ball being secured to the chain by a small snap washer 4L passingover the chain between the links, and which washer may readily slideinto the recess'5 in the ball and engage the shoulder 6 therein. In thisway the ball is freely mounted on the chain and may be readily removedby simply slipping the ball upwardly on the chain and removing the snapwasher. The opposite end of the chain is provided with a connectingdevice l,

having an offset T head 7, adapted to detachably engage a slottedportion 8 in the operating sheave, and with an offset snap catch 9 toengage between the adjoining links of the chain. The chain may be of anydesired formation, but as shown, has rounded or ball links which willreadily slide throu h Housing the switch mechanism is a porce lain cupor casing I secured to the frame F by screws passing through ears i inthe cup and engaging threaded apertures i in the frame. The back of thecup is grooved, as ate 5 for the accommodation of screws 71 and toenable the use of a wire connection in the groove i it being obvious tothose skilled in the art that this switch can be made either singlepole, double pole, threeway, two circuit, three circuit, four way, etc.The screws i secure in place and are in electrical connection with fourcombined wire terminalconnecting and spring contact supports J, onearranged at each corner of the porcelain cup I, the fastening being hadby the'screws engaging threaded apertures j in an offset base flange j.The outer end of each device J is also offset as at f and provided witha lug j .ad o1n1ng a threaded opening j, the relation of the lug andopening being such that the head of a binding screw J may oppose the lugand co-.

operate therewith in securing the wire ter minals thereto. One ofthe'spring contacts which is adapted to receive and electrically engagewith the rotatable switch blades H is shown in detail in Fig. 11, thesame comprising adjacent spring arms Khav ng oppositely flaring ends isand held in yieldable relation through the medium of a connectingportion 70' formed Hat and occupying a position at right angles to thearms K, this connecting portion being formed flat as shown, whereby tolie against the contact support J and be firmly secured thereto byrivets L passing through aimed apertures Z Z in the connecting portion kof the contact and in the intermediate portion of the contact support J.As shown in Fig. 3 of.

the drawings the rotation of the switch blades H is inplanes parallel tothe side walls of the porcelain cup I and the spring contacts K beingarranged in horizontal positions and extending from the rear Wall fnately make and break contact therewith,

asv is apparent.

From the foregoing description it will be appreciated that the improvedswitch disclosed herein is insertible into boxes B already placed inwalls, or may beinstalled in new boxes placed in either ceiling or wall,as desired, and that as an article the device may be readily handled andsold intact owing to the connection of the porcelain box I to the frameF which carries the switch mechanism and the connection of the frame Fwith the flush plate D. To install or remove the switch from the box B,it is simply necessary to fasten or unfasten the screws d and C. It willbe obvious that the screws C may also be inserted through the flushplate D instead of simply through the frame I*, if desired. l

In the hereto appended claims, wherein I employ the words pull cord, itis obvious that this term is to comprehend a cord, chain, or other pullmechanism.

I will not claim herein the means for connecting the ball to the pullchain, nor the device for connecting the pull chain to the switch,inasmuch as these more properly constitute. subjects matter fordivisional applications.

1. An electrical switch"comprising a cup, contact devices secured to theinterior of the cup, a progressively rotatable switch member mountedwithin the cup provided with means adapted to cooperate with the contactdevices, and mechanism for operating the switch member with a snapaction including a pull cord.

2. An electrical switch comprising a cup, contact devices secured to theinterior of the cup, a rotatable switch member mounted within the cupprovided with means adapted to cooperate with the contact devices, andmechanism for, operating the switch member including a pull cord.

3. An electrical switch comprising a cup, contact devices secured to theinterior of the cup, switch blades that are progressively rotatableparallel to the side walls of the cup into and out of engagement withthe contact devices, and mechanism for operat-.

engaging said cup, said operating mechanism including a pull cordprojecting outwardly from the front of the cup.

5. In a switch of the character described, a cup, contact devicessecured to the rear wall of the cup and projecting forwardly therefrom,switch blades rotatable in planes parallel to the side walls of the cuptoward and from the rear wall thereof into and out of engagementwithsaid contacts, mechanismfor operating said blades, and means forsupporting said mechanism removably engaging said cup, said operatingmecha-- nism including a pull coi d projecting outwardly from the frontof the cup, in combination with a face plate through which the pull cordpasses.

6. III-combination with a combined wire terminal securing device andcontact support comprising a fastening portion, and a portion fashionedfor the attachment of'a terminal wire, a contact formed of a singlepiece of metal, and comprising an attaching portion adapted to besecured to said Sup-- port, portions extending at right angleslto saidattaching portion and extendingthereabove to provide a pair of yieldablearms, said 'yieldable arms being provided at the free ends thereof withcontact portions spaced throughout the length thereof and extendingparallel to said support, the opposite ends of. said contact portionsbeing flared outwardly.

7. In a switch of the character described, a cup, contact devicessecured to the interior of said cup, a plate closing the end of saidcup, a rotatable switch member carried by said plate and adapted tocooperate with the contact device on the interior of the cup, anoperating mechanism for said rotatable switch member including a pullcord projecting outwardly through the plate closing the end of the cup.

8. In combination with a junction box, a face plate adapted to lie uponthe open end of said junction box and provided with recesses in the endportions thereof, a bracket plate removably secured to the rear face ofsaid face plate, and provided with ofi-set portions lying in'the'depressed portions of said face plate, a cup secured to said bracketplate, contact devices positioned within said cup, a switch membercarried wholly by said bracket plate and adapted to cooperate with thecontact device in said cup, and means adjustable longitudinally of theoff-set portion of said bracket plate for securing said plate to thejunction box.

'9. An electrical switch comprising a cup, contact devices secured tothe interior of the cup, switch blades that are progressively rotatableparallel to the side walls of the cup into and out of engagement withthe contact devices, and mechanism for operating said bladeswith a snapaction including-a devices, and operating mechanism for said pull cord.switch member including a pull cord. 7 1o 10. An electrical switchcomprising a cup, In testimony whereof I aflix my signature contactdevices secured to the interior of the in presence of two witnesses.cup, a bracket secured to the open end ofthe 1 ALLEN A. TIRRILL.

cup, a progressively rotatable switch mem- Witnesses: b er carried bysaid bracket provided with 1 WILLIAM W. CAMPBELL,

means adapted to cooperate with the contact DANIEL NA LoN, J r.

